LIPOPEROXIDATIN, TRACE-ELEMENTS AND VITAMIN-E IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

Objective: To evaluate serum levels of malonaldehyde (as a marker of l ipoperoxidation), copper, zinc, manganese (trace elements) and vitamin E in cirrhotic patients with respect to the severity of cirrhosis. Me thods: Twenty patients with compensated cirrhosis, 22 with decompensat ed cirrhosis and 21 healthy subjects were studied. Malonaldehyde was m easured by the thiobarbituric acid test; copper, zinc, and manganese w ere determined by atomic absorption, while vitamin E was measured by h igh-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Malonaldehyde levels w ere significantly higher in both groups of cirrhotic patients when com pared with healthy subjects. Zinc and vitamin E levels were significan tly lower in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. A significant corr elation was also found between serum zinc and albumin levels in these patients. Copper and manganese levels were similar in the three groups examined. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the increased suscep tibility to lipoperoxidation observed in advanced cirrhosis might be b ecause of a decrease in zinc and vitamin E levels, which have been rep orted to be critical for protecting cells against free radical mediate d lipoperoxidation.